Tampa Tailgate Menu

While I was sampling the “almost famous” wings at Hooters, I struck up a conversation with a couple of Steelers fans living in Florida. Mitch Wenger is an ex-steelworker from Weirton who moved to Orlando in 1986. He now works in a recession-proof industry, extermination. “Florida’s got a lot of bugs,” said Mitch. “Steel may be gone but termites are here to stay.”

Mitch was eating lunch with his buddy Erich Hoffman, whose family left Pittsburgh for Orlando in 1983. Erich used to work for Hooters in Orlando as a regional trainer for cooks and managers. He said he really misses Pittsburgh classics like the incline and Kennywood.

“Mitch and I met at a Steelers bar,” Erich said. “We get together on Sundays and tailgate before watching the Steelers on TV. We’ve come up with different items to serve or grill based on the opposing team. Fish Tacos for San Diego, Philly cheese steaks for the Eagles and chili for Cincy.” Sadly, they’ve banned tailgating at the Super Bowl, so the guys are out of luck. “If they did allow it, I’d grill some Cornish hens and put Warner’s and Fitzgerald’s numbers on them.”